The Owls, who host Old Dominion on Saturday, have won 10 consecutive games and are 17-3 for the second year in a row, which matches the best start in school history.

“I hope that we’re a team that people have respect for,” coach Tina Langley said. “That would be a great compliment to these kids and the work they put in, but for us this is the next game. The next game on our schedule is the most important game of the year for us. And now ODU is, so if we continue to keep that mind-set and prepare that way, I think we’ll be pleased with the way we play each night.”

The Owls, who are 8-0 in Conference USA play, never have been ranked in the Associated Press Top 25, but they did receive a vote in the poll for the first time this season Monday.

Center Nancy Mulkey, the reigning C-USA Player of the Week, has been an integral part of Rice’s success this season.

The 6-9 redshirt sophomore blocked nine shots in a game against UAB on Jan. 26, breaking her school record. She also tied a school record as the only player in the NCAA to block eight or more shots three times this season.

“I’ve definitely come a long way, and I feel great that I’m back out on the court with my team,” Mulkey said, “I just love being competitive, I love going after the ball, I love blocking shots. Personally, I love defense, so that’s where I get my energy and momentum.”

Mulkey, who started 33 games for Oklahoma as a freshman in 2016-17, sat out last season because of NCAA transfer rules. Then her 2018-19 debut was stalled by a preseason wrist injury. But since Mulkey rejoined the Owls for a Dec. 15 victory over SMU, Rice has gone 10-1, with its only loss to North Carolina.

Not to be outdone, guard Erica Ogwumike, who along with Mulkey helped lead Cypress Woods to the 2015 Class 6A state title, continues to be a force on the court. The C-USA Preseason Player of the Year is averaging a double-double, with 16.2 points and 10.6 rebounds per game.

“I was excited to play with Nancy after she sat out last year,” Ogwumike said. “It’s definitely nice to be able to toss it up to her sometimes ... I’m trying to elevate my game, and the next step in my game is to make others around me better. That’s what I try to do, and (Mulkey) definitely takes a load off me.”

Complementing Mulkey and Ogwumike is a collection of solid players that includes starting point guard Jasmine Smith, who played at The Kinkaid School, and forward Shani Rainey, a redshirt senior who is contributing again after missing last season because of an injury.

“I think we have such a selfless team,” Ogwumike said. “We all have that mentality, and we’re really trying to be great.”

Glynn A. Hill covers Rice and Houston-area college athletics for the Houston Chronicle, joining the paper in September 2015. A graduate of Howard University, he previously worked internships at organizations including the Associated Press and USA Today.